Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas was hoping to put a âdisastrousâ week behind him with a win but the pre-match news that police were now probing allegations his captain, John Terry â left on the bench â racially abused Anton Ferdinand would hardly have brightened his mood following a 5-3 loss to Arsenal on Saturday.

And Luizâs saved effort, with the Blues 1-0 up, a Jelle Vossen equaliser in the second half and a glaring late miss from Frank Lampard all combined to make matters worse for Villas-Boas.

The night began well for Chelsea when Ramires broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, exchanging passes with Fernando Torres before squeezing a shot under Genk keeper Laszlo Koteles.

Raul Meireles then cracked a 25-yard shot off the bar, and five minutes before the break Chelsea won a penalty when Thomas Buffel handled.

Koteles guessed right, though, to keep out Luizâs spot-kick, and after the break Genk emerged with renewed vigour.

Petr Cech saved from Kennedy Nwanganga, and, in the 61st minute, a fine flowing move exposed more of the ramshackle defending so prevalent in Chelseaâs loss to Arsenal â Vossen planting Fabien Camusâ neat cut-back home from 12 yards out.